In France, few studies have examined home care when it comes to ageing support and even fewer have considered alcohol misuse in this context. The studies also show that being old and having alcohol use disorders are two unfavourable conditions for receiving help, whereas for the Alzheimer's disease, there is a clear need for optimal care. In shows that the professional home caregivers are involved in looking after not only people with Alzheimer's disease but also those with alcohol misuse. However, despite the difficulties and satisfactions encountered, adaptation to the older people seems to be their priority and one of the many skills that they have acquired during their professionalisation. Most of the older people who are helped are women and the difficulties mentioned by their caregivers usually arise at the time of their death. Lastly, when caring for alcohol misusers, they describe negative attitudes in their support. Although research in this area is rare while home care for the older person, whatever the pathology, is increasing, professionals need to be supported by the associations or companies that employ them and should be trained to help them provide the appropriate care.
In France, few studies have investigated the experience of home caregivers with elderly people suffering from Alzheimer's disease or alcoholic behavior. The aim of this study was to describe caregivers' understanding of these disorders to identify their difficulties and satisfactions in relation to their role. Seventeen social care workers were interviewed and the content was analysed using a general inductive approach. Regarding misuse or abuse of alcohol, they expressed a feeling of helplessness, and put forth their experience and skills to communicate with the receiver of care. Concerning Alzheimer's disease, they expressed worries regarding its progression They identified themselves with the elder's anxiety, which induced fears regarding their own old age. All of them were satisfied by the care they provided and by the possibility of acquiring experience. Results could be of use in supporting clinical preventive actions for professional home caregivers dealing with these two disorders that can occur in the course of the ageing process.
Résumé Arlette, 74 ans, est actuellement en institution gériatrique, suite à une conduite d’alcoolisation tardive mais récurrente. Cette trajectoire est abordée après-coup, à la faveur d’un bilan psychologique. Une évaluation neuropsychologique (MMSE et Test de l’horloge) exclut toute détérioration liée à l’âge et/ou à l’alcoolisation. Le Rorschach laisse apparaître des mouvements psychiques contrastés avec des points de fixations infantiles à rapporter à l’incidence traumatique de certains éléments d’anamnèse. L’examen psychologique révèle la richesse de mentalisation de cette femme et éclaire quelque peu la fonction transitoire de l’alcool dans l’économie psychique d’une femme à la rencontre de la ménopause. Il s’offre, enfin, comme ouverture à un suivi psychologique dont la patiente, comme l’institution ne peuvent qu’être bénéficiaires.
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